The summer has finally arrived. Better late than never I suppose. The land here in north Longford is drier than it has been a month ago and it’s a welcome relief. The dairy cows are continuing to progress nicely through the final rotation.

I am happy with grass cover and growth as well as cow condition. The target of 600kg DM/ha average farm cover will be held over the winter for grazing next spring.

While it is obvious to say that grass is a valuable commodity and that farmers should utilise it and grow the maximum amount capable, it is one thing to say and another to do. There isn’t any point in going out and spending a substantial amount of money reseeding land if the extra grass that is grown is not utilised.

Soil testing is essential to growing more grass. Identify what parcels of land require lime, phosphorous (P) or potassium (K). Once this is identified, a fertiliser plan can be put in place.

Condition score

It is important to assess body condition of cows from now, in late lactation, to ensure they are at the correct body condition score (BCS) at calving in the springtime. An average BCS of 3.25 is required at calving, so cows with a score of 2.75 or less should be dried off early and fed accordingly in order to achieve the required condition.

The beginning of the suckler calving season has yet to commence, but the first cows due to calve will do so within the next week. It is a comfort having them calving outside and it extremely beneficial to calf health. Calves will be less prone to scours in this environment and cows calving indoors at a later date will do so in a fresher environment, lowering the infection risk.

Store heifers

An abundance of farm enterprises are certainly not in short supply here on farm. Along with drying off dairy cows, calving suckler cows, and feeding bulls, 11 store continental heifers were sold recently. Average weight of these heifers was 512kg (a range of 425kg to 575kg) and they attained an average price of €2.16/kg. Cue the overriding sense of disappointment.

These Charolais heifers were born in January/February 2015 and are all quality-assured. Prices have really taken a substantial hit and the price fluctuation which farmers have to bear will not sustain an adequate quality of life for farmers or farming families and certainly is not conducive to sustaining a positive outlook for the industry. In any event, farmers will continue to battle on.

Finally, as a Munster rugby supporter, living in the northernmost corner of the province of Leinster, I can imagine that Anthony Foley is sitting in his own Field of Dreams, looking down on the hallowed Thomand Park and Lansdowne Road grounds while singing the Fields of Athenry. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm.

Read more of James's articles here.